Dear editor:

No doubt Bigfoot is a mystery, UFOs continue to puzzle society and ghosts enthusiastically go thump in the night in support of way too many TV shows.

However, to me, the biggest mystery of our time is why developers stomping into Niagara-on-the-Lake refuse to propose developments that are in sync with the town’s established bylaws and unique cultural heritage.

It’s not rocket science to understand that tourists flock to our town because of it’s architecture, its “Leave it to Beaver” neighbourhoods and its significant and world-class artistic offerings.

So why do developers like Solmar Corp. think it’s in their best interests to propose a hotel right in the heritage district that seems more in keeping with an Italian mausoleum than a Federal or Georgian style hotel?

Why not a proposal similar in architecture to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island? Or the Bedford Springs Resort hotel in Pennsylvania? Or even Queen’s Landing right here at home? (I often proudly show off Queen’s Landing to visitors coming to town.)

For certain Solmar knows how to comply with local architecture since it built a beautiful retail plaza (where 11th Post restaurant resides) that seamlessly fits right into the town.

In fact, I would bet some visitors would believe it to be an original structure.

If Solmar wants to experience less resistance to its proposals, check out Federal and Georgian architectures (St. Andrew’s church is an example of Georgian), comply with the local bylaws in regard to height, and design a hotel that would make residents (and even Bigfoot) proud to show it off.

Certainly beats years of angry confrontations and litigation.

J. Richard Wright
NOTL